The following is an excerpt from James M. Mathes’ book A Record of Christian Union and Truth, describing how to identify the Lord’s church.
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But perhaps the reader is ready to ask, “How shall I find the church of God, seeing there are so many churches at the present time, each wearing a different name, having different faiths, constitutions, laws, manners and customs?” To identify the church of God in the present divided-state of christendom, we propose the following rule, which we think all will admit to be a good one. Take up the New Testament and read the description of the church of God: then look round among all the churches of the present day, and if you can find one which fills the description—that is, one having the same faith, built upon the same foundation, wearing the same name, walking by the same rule, the word of God alone, and consequently the same practice—you may then be satisfied that you have found the church of God. Or to state the whole matter in a figure: The church of God are said to be in fellowship, and may therefore properly be compared to a company who have entered into fellowship for a certain purpose, and have obtained a charter from the proper authority. In the charter they are described by name, the object of their organization; and their duties and privileges are also well defined.—But suppose in process of time, some of the members of this company should become so much dissatisfied with the manners and customs of the old company, that they conclude to organize a new company upon the same charter, under a different name. Their example is followed by others, until there are a hundred different companies, organized under as many different names, all claiming authority from the original charter for their several associations. Then comes a scuffle about who is the real chartered company! They cannot all be right! for the Legislature only chartered one company. How could such a controversy be determined? Certainly, by reference to the charter itself. And those who are described in the original document, who conform to it both in letter and spirit, and who still wear the original name of the company, would be acknowledged as the chartered company: but none of the rest could lay any just claims to the honor, since they have all gone away from the original ground and called themselves by other names, not once alluded to in the charter. Thus, the dispute would be easily settled.
Well, apply this to the church. The word of God is her charter: in it she is described by name, and all her duties and privileges are well defined. But hundreds of parties have been organized under as many different names, all walking by different rules; yet each claiming to be the old chartered company! How then is the matter to be settled? We say, let the word of God, which is the charter, be brought forward and examined, and that church which is properly organized, according to that document, under the chartered name, conforming in letter and spirit to it, have a right to the honor. But those whose names are not once mentioned in the Bible, and who have many practices and customs not authorized by it, must be considered as having forfeited the charter.